Arrow Panel at New York Comic Con

Any person who was in New York this past weekend may have noticed a few people dressed up in costumes—maybe you saw them in your hotel, your grocery store, on the subway car. That's because Comic-Con invaded New York in all its glory and we were there for a special panel with Arrow stars Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland, and executive producer Marc Guggenheim.

During the panel, Stephen Amell let slip some of his workout techniques for Arrow. Amell said at one point he had gotten pretty far in the auditioning process for Spartacus so he knew the rigors required for an action role in a TV show. But what inspired that scrumptious training scene (you know the one I'm talking about) in all the trailers? Another TV show, says Amell.

“They had set up the American Ninja Warrior obstacle course and the stairs were there,” Amell said. “They (the trainers) asked if I could do it and I said probably.”

And, thus, one of the most drool-worthy training scenes in the series was born (thank God he could do it!).

As for Amell's kid sister on the show (played by Willa Holland) well, while she looks like a troublemaker for now, Holland is hoping she'll get her chance at a bow soon too. Only time will tell, but now the cast is in the process of shooting episode 9, and Amell said that is where the audience will really see where the show is going.

“Episode 9 is everything that I wanted the series to be,” Amell said. “We play on the idea that Oliver is a regular guy with special abilities, but he's not a superhero and that really becomes clear in that episode.”

Guggenheim said the show will constantly deal with the balance of killing for revenge and killing to survive.

“It's part Count of Monte Cristo and part redemption story,” said Guggenheim.

Guggenheim also said the series (which is slated for a 22-episode run in its first season) is set up in a chapter-like format, so even if Arrow fails the Episode 2 test, we can skip ahead to the next “chapter” and see if it hits its stride then. I can't wait to see how the show shapes up, and at the very least I know I'll have some good eye-candy.

Jennifer Proffitt is a Midwest transplant to New York City. She spends most of her time reading and writing about romance, but you can follow her other adventures on Twitter @JennProffitt.